A Hundred Thousand Voices For Water

Colombia: Mobilizations in Defense of Water as a Common Good

A series of actions in defense of water as a common good for human kind, are being held in different Colombian cities this week, including a sit-in outside the Colombian Ministry of Environment. The actions are organized to mark a new anniversary of the UN declaration of water as a human right on Friday 22nd.

The movement Rios Vivos of Colombia will begin a series of mobilizations from March 14 to 22 in defense of water and to defend the right to social protest, Juan Pablo Soler, member of the movement, told Contagio Radio.

The movement is demanding space for dialogue, with the government as mediator, with the corporations engaged in the construction of hydroelectric projects without the consent of the communities potentially affected.

The website www.defensaterritorios.wordpress.com has been collecting signatures of Colombian and international people and organizations to demand those spaces and secure the peaceful mobiliation of the communities.

“The aim is to defend territories, water and life”, said Soler as he recalled that March 14th is the International Day of Action Against Dams, organized by the movement of people affected by dams around the world.

The leaders of the movements affected by dams in Colombia have received death threats by the public authorities, while Miguel Angel Pavon continues missing. He is the leader of the Social Movement in Defense of Sogamoso River.